In the Southern hemisphere, washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, is the island of Zanzibar – the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago in Tanzania. At its farthest northern tip is the fishing village of Nungwi. In terms of size, Nungwi (Zanzibar) is the second or third settlement on the island, with a population of about 5,500 people.
Nungwi is characterized by absolutely all the attributes that are present in fishing villages: a functioning lighthouse, a fish market with a daily variety of catches, a shipyard for the manufacture and repair of boats for fishermen.
For a long time, this settlement remained aloof from the developing tourism business in Zanzibar, but tourists coming here from all over the world realized that it was in Nungwi that the best beach on the island was located. The number of vacationers was constantly growing and, as a result, hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops began to surround the village. Now Nungwi Resort is one of the busiest and most popular places for a beach holiday in Zanzibar.
Hotels in Nungwi
If we talk about housing on Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar, it is expensive, although there are many hotels here. But there are only about ten really good hotels that can be safely called the best hotels in Zanzibar in terms of price-quality ratio.
Below are those hotels on Nungwi Beach that have a high rating on the site booking.com and they are always popular with tourists.
- Nungwi Beach Resort by Turaco 4* is suitable for those tourists who need comfortable living conditions. The hotel is located in the north of Zanzibar, right on the beach, so the rooms offer a magnificent view of the ocean. For a double room in the hotel, you will have to pay from $160 per day.
- Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort 5* is located on the north coast of the island, on a beach with a coral reef. On the territory of the hotel there is a chic tropical garden, 4 outdoor swimming pools, a gym, water sports facilities. The hotel operates under the “all inclusive” program, and if you compare with other options in Nungwi, then for the same money here guests get much more. The price of a double room per night starts from $320.
- In the village of Nungwi, at a distance of one kilometer from the lighthouse and close to the beach, there is a Warere Beach 4*hotel. Among the advantages: a World Wide supermarket is located nearby, an outdoor swimming pool is available on site, and a private beach is equipped. A double room will cost at least $117 per night.
- The popular Babalao Bungalows is located in West Nungwi, next to the Zanzibar Horse Club, a market and many restaurants, 100 m from the beach. Guests note a particularly warm attitude of the owners — any questions are resolved quickly and with understanding. Therefore, with more than 1,000 reviews, the hotel received an average rating of 9.7 points out of 10. A room for two can be rented here quite cheaply-from $49 per day.
- Safaya Luxury Villas is located on Nungwi Beach. Each atmospheric thatched roof villa is equipped with a small pool on the terrace, air conditioning, refrigerator, mini-bar. Cost You can eat at the hotel’s restaurant or order food in your room. The cost of living for two people is in the range of $264-450.
Nungwi Beach Holidays
The beaches in Nungwi are the most beautiful in Zanzibar. The water is clear, clean, warm, completely unreal and constantly changing shades. The sand is snow-white, soft, fluffy and very affectionate. There is practically no garbage on the shore, only sometimes the water takes out a lot of kelp algae.
The sandy coastal strip is long, divided into several beaches. The main beach, which starts from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and stretches west towards another prestigious Gyeongwa resort, is always quite crowded. But this beach is considered the best, because you can swim there even at low tide: because of the greater depth of the ocean, the water does not go more than 300 meters from the shore for 3-4 hours in time. The tides are much more pronounced on the northern coast of Zanzibar Island, closer to the lighthouse and fishing yard.
At low tide, you can walk far along the beach, you can even walk to Kendwa. But you need to be careful not to step on sea urchins – at low tide they are found near the water’s edge. You also need to keep track of the time, because the water returns very quickly! If the tide is still high during a long walk, you can only watch the boats: local residents often swim to the shore and offer to take them to Nungwi or Kendwa for a few thousand rubles.
The beaches of Nungwi have sun beds with umbrellas-they are located next to the market with Tanzanian souvenirs, they can be rented for a day for a small fee. If desired, you can rent a double catamaran together with the captain – for an hour and a half you will have to pay about $30.
Absolutely unique photos are obtained on the beach of Nungwi in Zanzibar during sunset. Not only is nature at this time of indescribable beauty, but also in the cafe on the shore beautifully arrange tables, light candles. In general, a solid relaxation.
But… there is one big disadvantage that prevents a relaxing holiday on the beaches of Nungwi, however, as well as throughout Zanzibar. This is the endless pestering of beachboys, who very obsessively offer to take you on a tour, sell something, do a massage. They are waiting for vacationers immediately at the exit from the hotel, and then on the beach, at the exit from the water. Sometimes you have to run from the beach to the hotel because of too annoying beach-boegs.
How to have fun in Nungwi
Many fishing enthusiasts go to rest in Zanzibar, in particular, to the resort of Nungwi. It is here, in the fishermen’s settlement, that there are most opportunities to go fishing in the ocean. In the nearest ocean waters, dorado, tuna, barracuda, sea bass are caught.
Nungwi Beach has excellent conditions for sapsurfing, and a board, paddle and vest can be rented for $15-25 per hour. At a distance of two kilometers from the Warere Beach Hotel is the East Africa Divers diving center, where you can not only rent the necessary equipment, but also use the services of a trainer.
If desired, you can walk along the beach to the lighthouse or go to the village for fresh exotic fruits. If you go to the lighthouse and fishing village, it is better to put on at least a pareo or shorts with a T-shirt, because the local population sometimes reacts too aggressively to white tourists in swimsuits. It is important to remember: it is completely safe only in hotels and on the coast, where there is security.
By the way, almost any place in Nungwi is within walking distance, although there is also a taxi service here. The cost of trips can not be called too high, for example, to get from the more comfortable eastern part of the beach to the busier western part, you will have to pay about $3-4.
Nungwi Natural Aquarium
Among the recommended places to visit is the Nungwi Mnarani Nature Aquarium, a small, picturesque nature reserve with green turtles and biss turtles. It is located on the north side, not far from the lighthouse, a little inland, and you can go to it directly from the beach.
Mnarani Marine Turtles has nursery aquariums with small turtles and slightly grown ones, as well as a natural lagoon with adult turtles. In this reservoir, they are allowed to swim with turtles and feed them cabbage and seaweed, which employees give out on the spot.
Important: swimsuits should not be green, as turtles can confuse them with food and bite them.
And here you can take beautiful photos in memory of Nungwi and Zanzibar: against the background of the nature of the picturesque lagoon, while feeding turtles or swimming with them.
It is better to come to the tour in the morning (opening at 10: 00), when there are still a few people. The entrance fee is $7 per person if you just watch, if you swim – $10.
Nungwi Natural Aquarium is located directly on the shore, and the entrance to it is immediately from the beach.
Here you can see turtles, from very small to adults, but they are not allowed to swim with them – only to watch and feed. Also on the territory of the nursery there is a skeleton of a huge adult whale, as well as many remains of dolphins that died en masse in 2006.
Island tours
From Nungwi, you can go all over the island with different excursions. You can go on a trip independently, or you can go in an organized group (as a rule, each hotel offers various excursion programs).
For example, you can take a walk in the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, which many people simply call the Jozani Rainforest. It’s only an hour’s drive from Nungwi, and there will be a lot of impressions. Wild monkeys roam freely in the park, and it is a pleasure to watch them.
No less exciting will be a trip to the nature reserve “Cheetah Rock”. In fact, this is a shelter for rescued wild animals, where conditions are created that mimic the natural environment as much as possible.
An hour-long excursion to one of the spice farms (there are several of them in Zanzibar) can give you a lot of discoveries. On the farm, you can see, touch, smell and taste a lot of things: turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, pepper, cloves, cardamom.
On the east coast of the island of Zanzibar, the administrative center of the same name is located. You can only go there for the sake of the old Stone Town center (translated as “Stone Town”), where the main attractions are concentrated. 5 hours will be enough to get around them all by yourself or with a guide, who themselves approach tourists on the city streets.
Food
Infrastructure on Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar is relatively well developed: there is a World Wide supermarket, two alcohol stores, and a lot of restaurants with a huge assortment of dishes at quite affordable prices. By the way, thanks to the great competition, the cost of food in Nungwi is the lowest on the island. Approximate prices for restaurants on the beach are indicated in local currency shillings or dollars USD:
- grilled fish (tuna, king, dorado) with rice, french fries and vegetables – $18-20;
- medium grilled lobster with rice or potatoes and vegetables – $35-45;
- grilled squid with side dish – $7-10;
- a plate of seafood for two – $40-65;
- grilled king prawns – $12-17;
- pasta with chicken, shrimp or seafood – $8-11;
- fish or meat curry – $9-12;
- beer (0.5 l bottle) – $3-4;
- water (1 l bottle) – $1.5.
From fruits on the market you can buy pineapples (the price, depending on the season, can be 1 500 or 2 500 – 3 500 shillings), bananas and peshen fruit (this is passion fruit) (3,500 shillings each), mangoes (prices depend on the size of the fruit).
Almost in the very center of Rybatsky posedenie, at the only roundabout, there is a snack bar where national fast food is prepared for local residents. A huge brazier is used to roast meat, egg and onion wrapped in dough – the result is something similar to the usual belyash, one piece costs 3,000 shillings. Very tasty, especially if you do not pay attention to the prevailing unsanitary conditions around. The cafe opens in the evening, after sunset.
Weather in Nungwi
The climate in Zanzibar has an enviable constancy, so it is enough to know the months that are favorable for rest in order for this holiday to be successful.
The air on the island in June-October warms up to +26 °C during the day, and in December-February the temperature rises to +28 – +37 °C, sometimes up to +40 °C.
April-May and November are the rainy seasons, which are sometimes weak, and often so strong that they completely close hotels. Flying to Zanzibar at this time is also not worth it because malarial mosquitoes are becoming especially active. The chances of being bitten by these insects during the dry season are extremely slim.
The most suitable months for a holiday in Zanzibar, including Nungwi Beach, are January-March, June-October, and December.
Since the sun is very active on the island, you should definitely take a strong sunscreen with you on your trip. And in any case, during the day in the open sun on the beach, you can be no longer than an hour. Swimming is best in the morning, from 8: 00 to 10: 00 and in the afternoon, from 16: 00 to 18: 00.
How to get to Nungwi
When traveling independently, the question always arises: “How to get from Zanzibar airport to the hotel in Nungwi?”. You can take a taxi, or you can use public transport.
Public transport
This option is the cheapest, but at the same time the longest and most tedious. It is unlikely to suit vacationers with children and large luggage, but it is quite suitable for financially straitened travelers without things.
First you need to get to the main city of the island — Stone Town, using a taxi (about $10) or dala-dala ($1). “Dala-dala” is the name given to minibuses converted from small trucks in Tanzania. From Stone Town to Nungwi, the same dala-dala and buses go (ticket $2). This journey will take 2-3 hours, and in addition you still need to walk to the hotel.
Taxi
There are plenty of minibus taxis available right in the parking lot of Zanzibar Airport. But the problem is that you will have to explain yourself to the driver in broken English.
It is much more convenient to book a transfer in advance: the driver will meet you at the airport, then you will have a ride. It is advisable to contact Zanzibar companies or taxi drivers already checked by other travelers. You may need these contacts:
- Taxi driver Mr. Ally. Organizes airport-hotel transfers, sightseeing tours. If you bargain, it can provide a good discount (transfer to Nungwi is not for 60, but for $45). E-mail: allytaxizanzibar@gmail.com, Facebook: Ally Makei; Телефон: +255 773 104273.
- Zanzibar Express Car Hire Company. Here you can rent a car, book a transfer and a tour. You can also negotiate a discount. Company’s website: www.zanzibarexpresscarhire.com.
A few words in conclusion
If you are planning a trip to Nungwi (Zanzibar, Tanzania), please read this article again. It contains a lot of diverse information that is sure to be useful on a picturesque island with luxurious beaches. Have a good holiday!
